She left the camp behind. On her right was gently rolling, snow-covered prairie. On her left were the woods that grew along the Ioway River. She saw the shadows of the horses among the trees, heard them snort and stamp their feet. Beside the woods ran the long trail leading to the bluff where the sacred cave overlooked the river. This close to the trees, she hoped, the snow would not be so deep. A shadow appeared on the snow beside her. A bolt of terror stabbed her. A powerful hand seized her arm. She felt paralyzed, like a rabbit about to be torn apart by a wildcat. She did not try to pull away. She could feel that the grip on her arm was too strong. She turned slowly. The moon was behind the man who held her, shadowing his face, but she could make out the glitter of piercing eyes, a stern mouth with strong lips under his brown fur turban. "Where are you going?" Wolf Paw's fingers hurt her arm. No words came to her. Frantically, she tried to think of some excuse for walking out so late on a night like this. He could have her killed, she thought, and terror made her feel like sinking into the snow. But then she remembered some of the lore Sun Woman had taught her. "My father sent me--to look for a certain herb whose power is greatest when the moon is full." He barked disdainfully. "Gathering herbs when the snow is up to your knees?" "It grows under the snow." He brought his face so close to hers that his black eyes seemed to fill the world. "You cannot lie to me, Redbird. I see what you are doing. You are going to _him_." "No, no, I am looking for herbs." "What is _this_?" With his free hand he tore away the blanket roll she had tied to her back and threw it into the snow. "And _this_?" He jerked on the water skin so hard that the strap broke, and he threw that down, too. "Do you need those things to help you find herbs?" he shouted. Trembling from head to foot, she felt herself starting to cry. She hated herself for showing such weakness in front of Wolf Paw. If she was to die, she wanted to be strong. To her surprise, the sense that she was being watched from a distance came back again. There was someone else out here in the frozen darkness besides herself and Wolf Paw. "It is death to interfere with a spirit quest," Wolf Paw growled. "The shaman's daughter of all people should know better than to break a holy law." Her fear made her feel as cold, as breathless, as if she were already plunged into black, freezing water, swept along, an enormous weight of ice between her and the air. "I have done nothing." "You meant to. That is as bad." She saw the hunting knife at Wolf Paw's belt. She could make a grab for it, try to stab him. No, he was one of the tribe's mightiest braves. He would be too quick and strong for her. And, at least, up to now she had done no harm to anyone but herself. To try to murder the son of the war leader would be a great crime.